486

LAWS OP MARYLAND.

experience to conduct the same, and that he is not

about engaging therein with a view to evade the

provisions of this act; which said petition to the

said judge shall be accompanied by a certificate,

filed therewith, of twenty-four freeholders of said

district, that they are well acquainted with said

petitioner, and that they know him to be well fitted

by training and experience to conduct such busi-

ness, and that from their knowledge of his character

they are satisfied that he will not abuse his license,

if granted, to evade the provisions of this act; and

upon such petition and certificate being filed, the

Give ten days'

said clerk shall give ten days' notice by two inser-

notice.

tions in some newspaper published in said county

of such petition, the cost of which notice, together

with all fees accrued under such petition shall, be-

fore such publication, be paid by said petitioner,

and within said ten days no objection shall be filed

to the issuance of such license, the said clerk shall

at once issue the same, endorsed as aforesaid, upon

the petitioner paying the usual license charges there-

for; but if within the said ten days any objection is

filed, either to the fitness of such petitioner by ex-

perience and training to conduct such business, or to

his character as a man fit to be trusted to conduct

the same, the clerk shall forthwith lodge all the

papers in said case with the judge to whom the

petition is directed, or with some other judge of the

circuit, if he, the judge addressed, from any cause

Hear case

cannot act, who shall appoint an early day for the

early.

hearing of the case, and shall direct the clerk to

issue subpoenas for such witnesses as either peti-

tioner or objector may desire, and shall hear and

determine the case as to him shall seem right, and

shall award to the successful party such costs in the

case as may have arisen since the publication of the

notice as aforesaid; and the clerk shall issue or

Issue or with-
hold.

withhold license according to the order of the judge ;

every petition filed under this section shall be veri-

fied by the oath of the petitioner taken before said

clerk and certified by him on said petition or on a

paper annexed thereto, and any false swearing as

to any matters required herein to bo set forth in

Held to be

any such petition shall be held to be perjury, but

perjury.

such license issued and endorsed shall have no effect

to restrain the person licensed in the sale of any